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Positive training · From eight weeks

Shih Tzu Puppy Training Manual

From 8 Weeks

Shih Tzu: offer the brush, pause often and build cooperative grooming through consent.

29 chapters · English / 中文

Watercolour illustration of a Shih Tzu puppy sitting on a grooming mat while a human offers a brush for cooperative grooming
Shih Tzu: offer the brush, pause often and build cooperative grooming through consent.

Breed profile

Training group
Toy and companion dogs
Origin
The Shih Tzu originated in China as a court companion dog.
Weight
4–7 kg
Coat
Long double coat
Coat care
Condition brushing, combing and eye-area handling through small voluntary steps so coat care and cleaning do not become recurring forced conflict.
Drive keywords
Living closely with people · Sensitivity · Playful engagement
Handling practice
Separate long-double-coat care into presentation of the tool, body-area touch and one easy brush or comb stroke, followed by a marker, reward and release. · Condition eye-area handling without restraint: approach, brief touch or cleaning motion, marker, reward and release before the puppy turns away; consult a veterinarian about any health concern.

General reference range only; individual dogs vary considerably.

Prevent, escort, reward

Toilet training

Toilet training is a schedule and supervision task. Every outdoor success is information; every indoor accident means the schedule, supervision or health context needs review.

Person in a raincoat holding an umbrella while a small dog sniffs beside a red flag marking its outdoor toilet spot
One marked toilet place and the same calm sequence make wet-weather practice predictable.

Six times the puppy must go out

During the day, add a scheduled trip every 45–60 minutes.

Watercolour toilet timing wheel showing a puppy going outside after waking, meals and play and every few hours
GO OUT after WAKING, after MEALS and after PLAY, plus EVERY FEW HOURS on the dog’s current schedule.

Use the same toilet-place sequence

  1. Take the same route Escort the dog on a secure lead directly to the toilet area without a tour of the yard.
  2. Use the same surface Consistency of place and surface helps the dog recognise the job.
  3. Wait quietly for 2–3 minutes No play, conversation or wandering while you wait.
  4. Mark the instant toileting happens Mark while the dog is still outside and completing the behaviour.
  5. Reward outside Deliver the reward at the toilet place. Do not wait until you are back indoors.
  6. Play only after success If toileting always ends outdoor time, the dog may learn to hold on to make the outing last longer.

Find the missing trip

Record three consecutive days

Chapter 27 provides fields for date, time, outdoor success, indoor accident and last meal time. Three consecutive days usually reveal where the schedule is late.

Regression is information

Expect a setback at 14–16 weeks and again in adolescence

Return to the previous stage’s outing frequency. Do not increase punishment.

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